There are many
important and famous places of Lord Ganesha all over the world. Among these
some places are more powerful & important than the others. There are eight
such powerful places, which are called as Ashtavinayaka.
These eight place are in India in the state of Maharashtra. A lot of importance
is given to these places in India and in Hindu religion. The incarnation stories
of these Ganesha’s are ancient, the places are also ancient. Some of the temples
are built recently. Among these, few are rebuilt in Madhavrao Peshwa’s period.
The idols of Ashtavinayaka are self-existent. They are installed in the temples
as they were found. Each idol is an incarnation of Lord Ganesha. There are some
mythological stories giving the importance of each Ganesha (idol). These stories
tell us about why and how these idols of Ganesha got their names and came into
existance. The idols are not beautiful like the man made ones but the self-existent
appearance of then does please the devotees.

The mangalashtaka
(poetic lines spoken at the time of marriage or thread ceremony) of Ashtavinayaka
is sang on holy occasions. The sequence of Ashtavinayaka pilgrimage according
to the stotra (poetic line) mentioned in puran as is as follows: